Phonograph toy having swingable motor and record-supporting output shaft

ABSTRACT

Record-driving motor is swingably mounted and the motor output shaft is spring-loaded against a record thereby trapping a phonograph needle between record groove and fixed speaker cone. Needle pressure is relieved at end of play so that spring-loaded output shaft siwngs sufficiently to move motor into a deenergized position. A reset button tips motor sufficiently to lower one side of record away from neelde permitting it to return to the outer edge of record.

United States Patent 1 Nuttall et al.

[ PHONOGRAPH TOY HAVING SWINGABLE MOTOR AND RECORD-SUPPORTING OUTPUT SHAFT [75] Inventors: Fleet E. Nuttall; Ralph R. Laing,

both of Hermosa Beach; James E. Marshall, Westminster; Tony Rhodes, Torrance; John E. Sargeant, Palos Verdes; Larry D. Workman, Fountain Valley, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,100

[ June 19, 1973 3,377,072 4/1968 Gentilini 274/9 B Primary Examin erLouis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerCharles E. Phillips Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [5 7] ABSTRACT Record-driving motor is swingab ly mounted and the motor output shaft is spring-loaded against a record thereby trapping a phonograph needle between record groove and fixed speaker cone. Needle pressure is re- [5 2] US. Cl. 274/9 B, 274/1 A lieved at end of play so that spring-loaded output shaft [51] Int. Cl. G1 lb 25/04 iwng fficien ly to move motor into a de-energized [58] Field of Search 274/] A, 9 B position. A reset button tips motor sufficiently to lower one side of record away from neelde permitting it to re- [56] References Cit d turn to the outer edge of record.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,927,794 3/1960 Carson 274/9 B 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 0 E160 Al 66 5: Z t 74 -l l. 2 [1:0

PHONOGRAPH TOY HAVING SWINGABLE MOTOR AND RECORD-SUPPORTING OUTPUT SHAFT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to the field of phonograph toys and more particularly to such a toy having a swingable motor and a record-supporting output shaft eliminating the need for a turntable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the primary object of the present invention is toprovide a new and useful phonograph toy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and useful phonograph toy having a swingable motor with a record-supporting output shaft which eliminates the need for a turntable.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a changeable-record phonograph toy is provided. For purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, the phonograph is shown as a unitary part of a doll wherein the doll torso comprises the housing for the phonograph parts and other structural members in the doll also serve as phonograph parts.

The phonograph includes an electric motor having an output shaft upon which the phonograph record is supported near its outer periphery. A fixed partition in the doll has an upper edge spaced from the output shaft of the motor for supporting the record near its outer periphery diametrically opposite the output shaft. in another embodiment of the present invention, a centering pin is carried by the motor for retaining the record in position adjacent the motor output shaft.

The record is of the disc type and has an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one recorded message groove on one of the surfaces, the needle-relieving means at the end-of-play of the recorded message groove. The fixed partition and the motor output shaft support the record on its other surface and the motor is biased into engagement with this surface so that the phonograph needle is trapped between the recorded message groove and the fixed speaker means. When the needle is relieved at the end of play, this biasing means swings the motor sufficiently to deenergize it by moving its circuit-closing contacts apart.

A plate is swingably mounted in one wall of the torso and includes a finger which engages the motor for swinging the output shaft in a direction opposite to the needle-trapping direction permitting the record to move away from the needle which is then free to swing back to the beginning-of-play at the outer periphery of the record. Swinging the output shaft in this direction also closes the electrical contacts controlling operation of the motor.

The doll torso includes a slot in alignment with the record-supporting partition edge and the motor output shaft so that a record may be inserted through the slot into playing position.

Means are provided in the doll torso for trapping the record so that it will not spin out of playing position due to the motor torque applied thereto.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a doll and phonograph toy of a first embodiment of the present invention with the upper torso portion thereof removed to show internal construction;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the doll and phonograph toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the phonograph parts as they appear at the beginning of play;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the parts as they appear at the end of play;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the parts as they appear during a reset operation; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded, partial perspective view of a modified form of the electrical contacts, motor-biasing means and the record-receiving means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 3, a phonograph toy constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a housing 12 shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a rear doll torso half 14 and a front torso half 16. Housing 12 is provided with a neck 18, a pair of arm plugs 20, 22, and a pair of leg openings 24, 26.

Housing 12 is also provided with a record-receiving slot 28 which may be conveniently located in one side of housing 12 along the parting line between the rear torso half 14 and front torso half 16.

Phonograph toy 10 also includes :an electric motor 30 which is carried by a motor yoke 32 having a pair of trunnions 34, 36 journalled in U-shaped slots 38, 40 provided in struts 42, 44, respectively, extending from rear torso half 14 toward, and in alignment with, struts 46, 48, respectively, extending from front torso half 16 and having free ends 50 engaging an associated one of the struts, 42, 44 for closing the open top of an associated one of the U-shaped slots 38, 40. Motor 30 includes an output shaft 52 having an elastomeric sleeve and a flange 56 affixed thereto for rotation therewith and is supplied electrical current through a first lead 58, which is connected to the positive terminal of a dry cell 60, and a second lead 62, a fixed contact 66, a movable contact 64 and a lead 68, which is connected to the negative terminal of battery 60. Movable contact 64 is carried by a cantilever spring connected to, and maintained in spaced relationship with, lead 68 by a dielectric rivet 72 in such a manner that spring 70 exerts a force on motor 30 at a point with respect to trunnions 34, 36 such that motor 30 is biased to swing clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, to the position shown in FIG. 2 where output shaft 52 lies slightly above a true horizontal line L-L passing through trunnions 34, 36 normal thereto. Thus, in its FIG. 2 position, the major axis A-A of motor 30 forms a slight angle with line L-L. This slight angle is sufficient to place output shaft sleeve 54 adjacent record receiving slot 28 and contacts 64, 66 will be opened.

Movement is imparted to movable contact 64 by an upstanding rib 74 carried by motor yoke 32 for movement thereby when motor 30 swings about trunnions 34, 36. Motor. yoke 32 also carries a pair of tangs 76, 78 which cage the crossbar portion 80 of a push plate 82 swingably mounted in the rear wall portion 84 of rear torso half 14 by a polypropylene hinge 86. Crossbar 80 is connected to plate 82 by a pair of substantially L-shaped struts 88, for rotating motor 30 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, when plate 82 is moved in the direction of arrow.92 for moving sleeve 54 and output shaft 52 to their FIG. 6 positions where sleeve 54 lies below slot 28 so that a disc-type phonograph record 94 may be inserted through slot 28 and placed in playing position inside housing 12 on sleeve 54 and the upper edge 96 of a partition 98 extending transversely across rear torso half 14. When plate 82 is released, spring 70 will bias motor 30 to the position shown in FIG. 4 where sleeve 54 engages one surface 100 of record 94 near the outer periphery thereof and moves it into contact with a phonograph needle 102 carried by a tone arm 104 swingably mounted in housing 12 on a fixed post 106 (FIGS. 1 and 3). Tone arm 104 is biased upwardly into engagement with a fixed button 108 on a speaker cone 110 having a peripheral rim 112 adhesively secured to the open bottom 114 of a cylindrical member 116 having an encompassing sidewall 118 extending from front wall 120 of the front torso half 16 toward the rear torso half 14. Spring 107 also biases tone arm 104 toward the outer periphery of record 94 where tone arm 104 is brought to rest by the engagement of a tone arm stop 122, which is affixed to tone arm 104, with a sidewall 124 of rear torso half 14.

Referring now more in particular to FIG. 1, record 94 includes a second or upper surface 125 which is provided with at least one recorded-message groove 126 which needle 102 is adapted to track in the direction of arrow 128 when record 94 is rotated in the direction of arrow 130 until needle 102 reaches a needle relieving means 132 which is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as an opening 134 at the center of record 94. Opening 134 may be bridged by a label-receiving member 136 and needle 102 may be retained closely adjacent the outer ends 138, 140 thereof by a second tone arm stop 142 affixed to tone arm 104 in such a position that stop 142 will engage sidewall 124 at the end of play of record 94.

Record 94 is held in centered position within housing 12 during playback by flange 56 on output shaft 52, a fixed tab 144 and a fixed partition 146. Flange 56 may be made from a suitable low-coefficient-of-friction material, such as a polytetrafluroethylene plastic material and small tabs of the same material may be provided at 148 and 150 on tab 144 and partition 146, respectively. Partition 146 is carried by a battery door 152 swingably mounted in rear wall 84 of rear torso half 14 by a polypropylene hinge 154 (FIG. 2) and retained in a closed position by a snap 156. Battery door 152 also carries a plurality of cradles, like the one shown at 158 in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, for securing battery 60 in position against a plurality of upper cradles, like the one shown at 160, which are secured to front wall 120 by plates 162 and a transverse rib 164.

Once record 94 is in position in housing 12, it is prevented from sliding out through slot 28 by an L-shaped cleat 166 swingably mounted in housing 12 on a pivot pin 168. Cleat 166 includes a long arm 170, which extends above slot 28, and a short arm 172, which is connected to plate 82 by means not shown in such a manner that moving of plate 82 in the direction of arrow 92 swings cleat 166 about pivot pin 168 until long arm 170 moves away from slot 28 sufficiently to permit record 94 to be inserted into, or removed from, housing 12. A spring 174 may be used to normally maintain cleat 166 in the position shown in FIG. 2 where arm 170 blocks slot 28.

Upward movement of the edge of record 94 remote from output shaft 52 is prevented by a partition 176 extending from torso half 116 toward the rear torso half 14 in alignment with partition 98. Unwanted upward displacement of the edge of record 94 which is adjacent of output shaft 52 is prevented by a tab 178 carried by motor yoke 32.

Recorded-message grooves 126 may also be provided on the surface 100 of record 94 (FIG. 3). A number of different materials and manufacturing techniques may be employed in making the phonograph toy 10. As disclosed herein for purposes of information, but not of limitation, the torso half 14, 16 may be molded in separate halves from suitable plastic materials, and the various partitions, cradles, tabs, struts and the like may be formed integrally with their associated torso halves 14, 16. The phonograph needle 102 and the springs 107 and 174 may be made from steel. Speaker cone 110, button 108 and tone arm 104 may be made from a styrene monomer and motor yoke'32 may be made from a polyethylene material.

Operation of phonograph toy 10 will be described in connection with FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Referring now to FIG. 5, phonograph record 94 has just finished playing its recorded message and tone arm 104 has moved from the position shown in broken lines adjacent the periphery of record 94 to the position shown in solid lines where needle 102 has reached needle-relieving means 132 whereupon spring 70 has rotated motor 30 clockwise sufficiently to open contacts 64, 66 de-energizing motor 30.

Referring now to FIG. 6, reset button or plate 82 may be pushed in the direction of arrow 92 rotating motor 30 counterclockwise sufficiently to close contacts 64, 66 and permit record 94 to tilt downwardly adjacent output shaft 52 freeing needle 102 so that tone arm 104 may return to the outer periphery of record 94 under the influence of spring 107. Record 94 may then be either played again or removed through slot 28 and replaced by a fresh record.

Assuming'that record 94 is to be replayed, plate 82 may be released whereupon spring 70 will swing motor 30 clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4 where sleeve 54 moves record 94 into engagement with needle 102 which will then track groove 126 to the end-ofplay at needle releasing means 132.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated A, is identical to the first embodiment except that motor 30 is biased by a separate spring 179 having a first end 180 engaging motor 30 ahead of trunnions 34, 36 and a second end 181 engaging rear torso half 14. Additionally, contact 66 has been replaced by a coil-spring-type electrical contact 66A having a first end 182 extending across the back of motor 30 (out of contact therewith) to a position above a contact 64A carried by motor 30 and a second end 184 anchored in rear torso half 14. Motor 30 swings contact 64A into engagement with end 182 of contact 66A to complete the electrical circuit to motor 30.

Also, plate 83 has been replaced by a plate 82A swingably mounted in rear wall portion 84 of torso half 14 by a hinge assembly 86A and motor yoke 32 has been replaced by a yoke 32A having a finger 186 extending under crossbar 80A on plate 82A so that finger 186 will swing motor 30 in the manner previously described when plate 82A is depressed. Finger 186 carries an upstanding, fixed pin 188 adapted to engage an aperture 190 provided in the label-receiving portion 136A of a record 94A and maintain record 94A in a centered position during rotation thereof by motor output sleeve 54.

When record 94A is slid into torso half 14 through record receiving slot 28, record 94A engages an upstanding pin 192 on crossbar 80A and swings plate 82A about hinge 86A so that crossbar 80A will depress finger 186 sufficiently that record-receiving pin 188 will be below record 94A as it moves into position.

While the particular phonograph toys herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

l. A phonograph toy, comprising:

a housing;

motor means having an output shaft;

means swingably mounting said motor means on said housing for swinging motion about an axis normal to said output shaft;

phonograph record means having at least one recorded-message groove;

fixed partition means on said housing having a record-supporting surface lying in a predetermined plane for supporting one edge of said record means in said predetermined plane;

motor biasing means biasing said motor means to swing about said mounting means in a first direction to a position where said output shaft engages one side of said record means;

a phonograph needle for tracking said recordedmessage groove, said needle being positioned between said record and said speaker; and speaker means mounted on said housing wherein when said output shaft is biased to swing about said mounting means in saidfirst direction into engagement with the other side of said record means by said biasing means said needle is trapped in said groove due to movement of said record toward said speaker.

2. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including spring means biasing said needle to a predetermined reset position and reset plate means connected to said motor means for swinging said motor means in a second direction opposite to said first direction for releasing said needle from its trapped condition upon actuation of said reset plate means, whereby said needlebiasing spring means will reset said needle.

3. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including finger means carried by said motor means and extending from said motor means to a position adjacent said record means and a pin carried by said finger means for engaging said record means to center said record means with respect to said partition means and said output shaft.

4. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including needle-relieving means on said record means for releasing said needle from trapped engagement in said groove at the conclusion of the playing of a message recorded in said groove.

5. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 4 wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor, a fixed contact and a movable contact, said contacts being closed when said output shaft is in said predetermined plane, said biasing means swinging said electric motor to a position where said contacts open when said needle is released by said needlerelieving means.

6. A phonograph toy, comprising:

housing means;

motor means having an output shaft;

means swingably mounting said motor means on said a housing;

disc-type phonograph record means having an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one recorded message groove on one of said surfaces and needlerelieving means at the end-of-play of said recorded message groove;

fixed partition means mounted on said housing means in a predetermined plane adjacent said out put shaft and having a record-supporting edge for supporting the other surface of said record means adjacent the outer periphery thereof, said edge of said partition and said output shaft lying in said predetermined plane when said motor means is swung to its normal operating position, said output shaft being spaced from said edge of said partition sufficiently to engage said other surface of said record means adjacent the outer periphery thereof diametrically opposite said partition edge;

motor biasing means biasing said output shaft into engagement with said other surface of said record means;

speaker means mounted on said housing;

a phonograph needle for tracking said recorded message groove, said needle being positioned between said record and said speaker;

said needle being trapped in said recorded message groove when sad output shaft is in engagement with said other surface of said record means in said predetermined plane, said motor biasing means swinging said motor means about said normal axis in a first direction so that said needle can be relieved by said needle-relieving means at the end of play; means connected to said motor means for deenergizing said motor means when said motor means swings about said normal axis in said first direction;

and motor swinging means connected to said motor means for swinging said motor means about said normal axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction to lower said output shaft away from said record means, whereby said record means is free to tip slightly under the influence of gravity permitting said needle to clear said one surface of said record means and return to the point-ofbeginning-of-play for said needle means. 7. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 6 wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor and said motor de-energizing means comprises electrical contacts. 8. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 6 wherein said housing means is provided with a recordreceiving slot in alignment with said recordsupporting edge, whereby different records may be played by inserting them through said slot and then withdrawing them at the end of play. 9. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 8 wherein said housing means comprises a doll torso. 10. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 9 including an aperture in said record means, finger means car-- said output shaft. 

1. A phonograph toy, comprising: a housing; motor means having an output shaft; means swingably mounting said motor means on said housing for swinging motion about an axis normal to said output shaft; phonograph record means having at least one recorded-message groove; fixed partition means on said housing having a record-supporting surface lying in a predetermined plane for supporting one edge of said record means in said predetermined plane; motor biasing means biasing said motor means to swing about said mounting means in a first direction to a position where said output shaft engages one side of said record means; a phonograph needle for tracking said recorded-message groove, said needle being positioned between said record and said speaker; and speaker means mounted on said housing wherein when said output shaft is biased to swing about said mounting means in said first direction into engagement with the other side of said record means by said biasing means said needle is trapped in said groove due to movement of said record toward said speaker.
 2. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including spring means biasing said needle to a predetermined reset position and reset plate means connected to said motor means for swinging said motor means in a second direction opposite to said first direction for releasing said needle from its trapped condition upon actuation of said reset plate means, whereby said needle-biasing spring means will reset said needle.
 3. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including finger means carried by said motor means and extending from said motor means to a position adjacent said record means and a pin carried by said finger means for engaging said record means to center said record means with respect to said partition means and said output shaft.
 4. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 1 including needle-relieving means on said record means for releasing said needle from trapped engagement in said groove at the conclusion of the playing of a message recorded in said groove.
 5. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 4 wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor, a fixed contact and a movable contact, said contacts being closed when said output shaft is in said predetermined plane, said biasing means swinging said electric motor to a position where said contacts open when said needle is released by said needle-relieving means.
 6. A phonograph toy, comprising: housing means; motor means having an output shaft; means swingably mounting said motor means on said housing; disc-type phonograph record means having an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one recorded message groove on one of said surfaces and needle-relieving means at the end-of-play of said recorded message groove; fixed partition means mounted on said housing means in a predetermined plane adjacent said output shaft and having a record-supporting edge for supporting the other surface of said record means adjacent the outer periphery thereof, said edge of said partition and said output shaft lying in said predetermined plane when said motor means is swung to its normal operating position, said output shaft being spaced from said edge of said partition sufficiently to engage said other surface of said record means adjacent the outer periphery thereof diametriCally opposite said partition edge; motor biasing means biasing said output shaft into engagement with said other surface of said record means; speaker means mounted on said housing; a phonograph needle for tracking said recorded message groove, said needle being positioned between said record and said speaker; said needle being trapped in said recorded message groove when sad output shaft is in engagement with said other surface of said record means in said predetermined plane, said motor biasing means swinging said motor means about said normal axis in a first direction so that said needle can be relieved by said needle-relieving means at the end of play; means connected to said motor means for deenergizing said motor means when said motor means swings about said normal axis in said first direction; and motor swinging means connected to said motor means for swinging said motor means about said normal axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction to lower said output shaft away from said record means, whereby said record means is free to tip slightly under the influence of gravity permitting said needle to clear said one surface of said record means and return to the point-of-beginning-of-play for said needle means.
 7. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 6 wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor and said motor de-energizing means comprises electrical contacts.
 8. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 6 wherein said housing means is provided with a record-receiving slot in alignment with said record-supporting edge, whereby different records may be played by inserting them through said slot and then withdrawing them at the end of play.
 9. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 8 wherein said housing means comprises a doll torso.
 10. A phonograph toy as stated in claim 9 including an aperture in said record means, finger means carried by said motor means and having a free end positioned in said housing means adjacent said aperture in said record means and a fixed pin on said free end of said finger means for engaging said aperture to hold said record means against lateral displacement during rotation of said record means by said output shaft. 